The TAC Top 25 Concert Countdown #1 Puttin' On The Ritz

[TAC]

Jeez, on Powerslave, that's one of H's solos that Janick didn't butcher.  Very cool.

HAHAHAHA.  Did he swing the guitar instead?

He did, and not only that, he stuck his leg up on the speaker.

[TAC]

Ours was at the Bronco Bowl, one of Dallas's most beloved venues (it's a Home Depot now). About 5500 people. Killer show. And maybe it was a band thing, because the AC wasn't working for ours, either. If you think Boston gets hot, try Dallas. 

I couldn't imagine.

The Ed Hunter tour was amazing!   I saw them in July 1999 at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.  There was also no AC - I've read that many singers request the AC to be turned off at venues, as the dry air messes up their vocal cords.  Humid air is better for singing.  At the Chicago show, someone in the crowd said that it was 112 degrees on the stage that night, and I remember being soaked in sweat after the show. 

 

Iron Maiden - a fucking mug. Tim goes to a show, and buys a coffee mug. You could tell TAC was getting old in 1999. 

Also, the mug is pretty cool.  Maybe an odder thing to buy at a metal show

 

It actually was not lost on me at the time. I joked about it then.

[TAC]

Seeing Maiden in a smaller venue must have been amazing. 

I almost got a chance to see them in a similar sized venue on the X Factor tour, but the show was cancelled with only hours of notice, due to personal reasons for a band member. Not that seeing Maiden with Blaze would be comparable to seeing them with Bruce, but it would have been a cool experience.

I actually missed TXF tour. They played in Providence and Boston on consecutive nights and my boss would not let me take one of those nights off. I was pissed.

I did see them on the VXI tour in Phoenix at the Celebrity Theater. We just happened to be on vacation out there when they were there. No clue how I talked my wife into that. 

[TAC]

12.  Dream Theater


December 16, 1992
Axis, Boston


Setlist:
Metropolis Pt. 1
Under a Glass Moon
Surrounded
Pull Me Under
The Ytse Jam
(with drum solo)
Moon Bubbles
Another Day
Another Hand
The Killing Hand
Take the Time
Wait for Sleep
O Holy Night
Learning to Live



Believe it or not, this was my third time seeing Dream Theater. I had seen them in the summer, and then they played at Axis in Boston in October. They would come back to Axis 2 months later. Axis was a very small club with a 750 capacity. I have no idea how they'd get 750 in there honestly.

One thing about Axis is that there was this really weird second floor, with no views of the stage. It was literally like the Moloko Milk Bar from A Clockwork Orange.

One night I went to see Mr. Bungle there, and we go upstairs and there's all these gypsies selling jewelry and shit. WTF??

Anyway, at this point, Dream Theater was everything to me. I was so immersed in Images & Words. It was so exciting to go see them. You could also tell that it was a musician's crowd. Opening up with Metropolis, with that mid section was ridiculous. It was like BAM!

I also fell in love with The Killing Hand which they played in both of the October and December shows. I vividly remember MP standing up and spinning his cymbals in the "I'm in the valley" section.

A local band called Moodcrush opened and they were also fantastic. When DT returned 3 months later to play Avalon next door, they had Moodcrush play with them again.

I have the bootleg to this show, but it's really not that great. Warpy battery, but Oh Holy Night actually came out pretty good, so I'll upload that if anyone wants to hear it. It's a great version, much different than the acoustic version from the Rhode Island telethon.

https://we.tl/t-1TVcMiyl9R


Some pics from the show..










Even got a JP pick!

[wolfking]

Jeez, on Powerslave, that's one of H's solos that Janick didn't butcher.  Very cool.

HAHAHAHA.  Did he swing the guitar instead?

   This comment is outstanding, so fucking clever Bill, love it.

If you listen, it isn't Adrian level of course, but he somewhat stays true to parts of the solo, which coloured me surprised!

[wolfking]

Man, to see DT on the I&W tour so up close and personal, just wow!!

[TAC]

Man, to see DT on the I&W tour so up close and personal, just wow!!

James was great on the '92 leg. Definitely download the Oh Holy Night. He's tremendous.

[wolfking]

I purchased some JP picks a couple years ago, I really like them and use them all the time now.  Looking at that pick, seems like he's stayed true to what he's used all along.  Good shit.

[TAC]

I purchased some JP picks a couple years ago, I really like them and use them all the time now.  Looking at that pick, seems like he's stayed true to what he's used all along.  Good shit.

Yeah, it's a Dunlop Jazz III right? He's still with them. I was surprised how small it was. And that was before the Paul Bunyan arms.

It's a little scratched up from sitting in a drawer for 30 years.

[wolfking]

I purchased some JP picks a couple years ago, I really like them and use them all the time now.  Looking at that pick, seems like he's stayed true to what he's used all along.  Good shit.

Yeah, it's a Dunlop Jazz III right? He's still with them. I was surprised how small it was. And that was before the Paul Bunyan arms.

It's a little scratched up from sitting in a drawer for 30 years.

Yep, looks like the jazz one.  I actually purchased the purple flow picks which is similar but I see you can buy the jazz ones which looks near the same.  That's a hell of a piece of memorabilia mate.  To be anyway.

[Zoom E]

This is another show I’m jealous of. Even though I became a Dream Theater fan in 1989, I didn’t get to see them live until 2003 when I saw them in Seattle on the triple bill with Queensryche and Fates Warning. They had never played Vancouver before, but after that Seattle show they suddenly started playing here all the time, which was great.

Those are some great up-close photos.

[Lethean]

Count me in as being jealous as well. 

[TAC]

Those are some great up-close photos.

The problem with being so close was that most of the pics kind of suck. These are the best ones..

[wolfking]

I've been pretty much jealous of every single concert Tim has been to.......except KISS. 

[Lethean]

I've been pretty much jealous of every single concert Tim has been to.......except KISS. 

Definitely not Kiss here either.   Jealousy is probably too strong for most of his submissions.  For example I think it would have been really cool to see Judas Priest when he did, and I like reading about it.  But I'm jealous of the DT and Rush and Maiden shows.

[King Postwhore]

Half a year before I saw them in the iconic Warwick R.I. boot at an Amusement park. What an energetic tour. Can't say enough.

[cramx3]

Yeah, jealous too and I was going to say that pic looks like one JP gave to the guy next to me at the Red Bank show earlier this year. So fucking cool to have seen DT back then and I'm sure there's more from the Era coming on your list

[Deadeye21]

Man, imagine having to pick your top concerts in order when you’ve seen all these awesome shows!

[wolfking]

Man, imagine having to pick your top concerts in order when you’ve seen all these awesome shows!

I would need to see 25 concerts first before I could even do a list! 

[cfmoran13]

14. Iron Maiden


July 18, 1999
Orpheum, Boston

This was my very first time seeing Maiden, in New York at Hammerstein Ballroom, 2 days earlier.  Such an amazing show!  The crowd was electric and the band was on fire.

[Lonk]

I purchased some JP picks a couple years ago, I really like them and use them all the time now.  Looking at that pick, seems like he's stayed true to what he's used all along.  Good shit.

JP picks are great, I used 3 of his picks and all 3 feel great when playing.

[ReaperKK]

I purchased some JP picks a couple years ago, I really like them and use them all the time now.  Looking at that pick, seems like he's stayed true to what he's used all along.  Good shit.

JP picks are great, I used 3 of his picks and all 3 feel great when playing.

I didn't realize he used a jazz III for as long as he has. I played Jazz III's for the past 15 years but recently I found the prodigy pics from Ernie Ball which are amazing.

[Lonk]

I purchased some JP picks a couple years ago, I really like them and use them all the time now.  Looking at that pick, seems like he's stayed true to what he's used all along.  Good shit.

JP picks are great, I used 3 of his picks and all 3 feel great when playing.

I didn't realize he used a jazz III for as long as he has. I played Jazz III's for the past 15 years but recently I found the prodigy pics from Ernie Ball which are amazing.

By far, top and bottom middle picks are the best picks I have ever used. I got the bottom middle at his last G3 (2018?), and while is a little bigger than the Jazz III, it still feels great.

[Samsara]

DT headlining in 1992. Doesn't get much better. Really cool, Tim! 

[Stadler]

Funny thing, this and the Kiss show are the only two so far I AM jealous of (maybe because I saw variations on the other ones). 

I've been to both Axis and Avalon.  Good times. I'm skeptical that "newer" will be "better".

[Lethean]

Funny thing, this and the Kiss show are the only two so far I AM jealous of (maybe because I saw variations on the other ones). 

I've been to both Axis and Avalon.  Good times. I'm skeptical that "newer" will be "better".

I don't think newer is automatically better.  Or older either.  I'm jealous of the DT shows because they're one of my favorite bands and I'd like to have seen every tour.  I'd like to have seen them at the beginning, as I've seen them at the middle and what is now presumably towards the end.  The same with Rush.  I feel like if I had to choose, I got the better deal because I got to see them do the 3 hour shows, as well as hearing from multiple people that they were just a little bit better/more relaxed/happy to be on stage when they came back.  But certainly it would have been cool to see them when Geddy was real young and to hear him singing some of that old stuff live like he did on the record.  Etc. 

[Stadler]

Funny thing, this and the Kiss show are the only two so far I AM jealous of (maybe because I saw variations on the other ones). 

I've been to both Axis and Avalon.  Good times. I'm skeptical that "newer" will be "better".

I don't think newer is automatically better.  Or older either.  I'm jealous of the DT shows because they're one of my favorite bands and I'd like to have seen every tour.  I'd like to have seen them at the beginning, as I've seen them at the middle and what is now presumably towards the end.  The same with Rush.  I feel like if I had to choose, I got the better deal because I got to see them do the 3 hour shows, as well as hearing from multiple people that they were just a little bit better/more relaxed/happy to be on stage when they came back.  But certainly it would have been cool to see them when Geddy was real young and to hear him singing some of that old stuff live like he did on the record.  Etc.

Dream Theater is probably THE band I kick myself most about seeing early on.  I love that I saw Maiden as an opening act.  It's not like I wasn't a DT fan - I bought I&W on release - it's not like I wasn't close - Toad's Place was 35 minutes from my house, and I could be at Hammersmith or Axis in about two hours, easy - and it's not like I didn't have the means - I was a single guy making good coin at construction.   Why I didn't see them in a club at that time is an incomprehensible oversight as far as I'm concerned.  I can only surmise that my relative lack of presence on the internet at that time may have been a factor.

[wolfking]

I purchased some JP picks a couple years ago, I really like them and use them all the time now.  Looking at that pick, seems like he's stayed true to what he's used all along.  Good shit.

JP picks are great, I used 3 of his picks and all 3 feel great when playing.

I didn't realize he used a jazz III for as long as he has. I played Jazz III's for the past 15 years but recently I found the prodigy pics from Ernie Ball which are amazing.

By far, top and bottom middle picks are the best picks I have ever used. I got the bottom middle at his last G3 (2018?), and while is a little bigger than the Jazz III, it still feels great.

Bottom middle ones are the ones I have, they are indeed amazing.

[TAC]

Half a year before I saw them in the iconic Warwick R.I. boot at an Amusement park. What an energetic tour. Can't say enough.

I skipped that show. It was a Saturday night and had to listen to it on the radio while putting together a dining room set. I should've said fuck off, but I was going to a lot of shows at that time, and well, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

I would see them at Avalon in March, which holds about 2500 people, so they were building their audience. I also had tix to see them in Providence in Feb '93, but there was a damn blizzard, and as soon as I got on the highway, I turned right back around.

Funny thing, this and the Kiss show are the only two so far I AM jealous of (maybe because I saw variations on the other ones). 

I've been to both Axis and Avalon.  Good times. I'm skeptical that "newer" will be "better".

I don't think newer is automatically better.  Or older either.  I'm jealous of the DT shows because they're one of my favorite bands and I'd like to have seen every tour.  I'd like to have seen them at the beginning, as I've seen them at the middle and what is now presumably towards the end.  The same with Rush.  I feel like if I had to choose, I got the better deal because I got to see them do the 3 hour shows, as well as hearing from multiple people that they were just a little bit better/more relaxed/happy to be on stage when they came back.  But certainly it would have been cool to see them when Geddy was real young and to hear him singing some of that old stuff live like he did on the record.  Etc. 

The thing about this era of DT is that I feel like I was just lucky. There was no internet and PMU hadn't really broke. I just happened to see them and watched the music papers in Boston and you literally wouldn't know about a show until you saw it in an ad.

I was out of college for a couple years at this point and I thought I'd never find a "new" band, like I would discover bands when I was younger.
I was old enough to go to club shows and it was just really exciting. Images & Words was a musical life changing album. From the moment I bought it, I didn't listen to much else for a year and a half.



I'm working on an update now that should be ready tonight. It's a good one! I'll likely be unable to update tomorrow, but will again on Sunday. I plan on finishing next Friday so whoever is going next...




EDIT: Gee, I'm glad I included JP's pick in the post. Wasn't expecting so much pick talk.

[wolfking]

I told you Tim, it's an amazing piece of memorabilia. 

[SeRoX]

Hearing 92 prime James that close with this setlist is like living Heaven on Earth. So F*CKING jealous.

[TAC]

Hearing 92 prime James that close with this setlist is like living Heaven on Earth. So F*CKING jealous.

I posted a download link to Oh Holy Night. It's worth a listen. James is fantastic.

[TAC]

11. Clash Of The Titans
           Anthrax
            Slayer
          Megadeth
       Alice In Chains


July 6, 1991
Great Woods, Mansfield MA


Anthrax:
Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)
Got the Time
Caught in a Mosh
Keep It in the Family
Indians
Antisocial
I'm the Man
I Am the Law


Slayer:
Hell Awaits
The Antichrist
War Ensemble
South of Heaven
Raining Blood
Altar of Sacrifice
Jesus Saves
Dead Skin Mask
Seasons in the Abyss
Mandatory Suicide
Angel of Death


Megadeth:
Wake Up Dead
Hook in Mouth
Hangar 18
The Conjuring
In My Darkest Hour
Dawn Patrol
Tornado of Souls
Holy Wars
Peace Sells
Anarchy in the U.K.


Alice In Chains:
Would?
Real Thing
Put You Down
We Die Young
Bleed the Freak
It Ain't Like That
Man in the Box







Anthrax:
Bootleg vid from Miami
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPrSf5ZEskM

Hampton Va
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EterEsL49o



Slayer:
Boot from Miami
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuNBQ9AqiDM

Hampton VA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7uGpqF1wGc


Megadeth:
Boot from Miami
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIMuJUP6N6Y

Alice In Chains:
Weedsport NY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4XyVy71v1s

Miami
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ep1hC6V270


There used to be tours in Europe called The Clash Of The Titans, similar to The Monsters Of Rock, but it was on a much smaller scale and had more of a thrash edge to it. I remember seeing the ads in Kerrang.
So when they announced a Clash tour in the US for the summer of 1991, which included Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer, this was a must go. They tour had each band basically playing a 55 minute set, rotating headlining. What was interesting was that even when we got to the show, we had no idea what the band order would be. I am not even sure that I knew Alice In Chains was opening, for that matter.

I love daylight shows. Seeing Megadeth, playing pretty much all of their set in daylight to dusk was awesome.
This was my second time seeing Anthrax and Megadeth on their respective tours and the third time seeing Slayer on the Seasons tour. In fact, of the three bands, only Slayer did an actual headlining run.

The Priest and the Titans tours were the only times Megadeth came through, and that's after headlining theaters on the SFSGSW tour. I never understood this. Anthrax did come through again in the fall co-headling with Public Enemy, and needless to say, I skipped that. Persistence Of Time and Rust In Peace begged for headlining runs.

Anyway, we were there early and saw Alice In Chains. they were pretty cool. I already had their first album. They opened with Would? which I was unfamiliar with as it's not on the album.

Megadeth was awesome, as was Slayer. For some reason, Anthrax didn't give me the same vibe that they did 6 months earlier opening for Maiden. I love Anthrax, but I don't know if their thing worked with Joey wearing the Indian headpiece right after Slayer melted our faces.


Some pics from the show..














We actually left before Anthrax finished. I didn't feel like we were going to miss anything, plus we wanted to beat the traffic out of Great Woods. Great Woods was notorious for having like 100 people helping you park, but having no one helping you out.
Anyway, when we left, we drove to Providence because Quiet Riot was playing at this place called JR's Fastlane.

We got there in time for Quiet Riot. This was a really small place, but it was cool to see them. Here's a pick.

[Zoom E]

I figured this one would show up on your list. I saw this tour too and Anthrax were also the headliner. If I am remembering correctly, the encore featured an extended version of Bring the Noise. So no, you didn't miss much. I enjoyed their set, apart from that song.

[TAC]

I figured this one would show up on your list. I saw this tour too and Anthrax were also the headliner. If I am remembering correctly, the encore featured an extended version of Bring the Noise. So no, you didn't miss much. I enjoyed their set, apart from that song.

I always preferred John Bush doing Bring The Noise. His grittiness really made it so much stronger and convincing.